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The Buffalo Bills are facing a must-win situation this week to keep their playoff hopes alive, but even a victory over the Miami Dolphins won’t guarantee a berth. The team would also need at least two of the teams between the Titans, Chargers or Ravens to lose as well.
Even though it’s not completely in Buffalo’s hands anymore after last week’s loss to the Patriots, the team must focus solely on what is within its control: getting the win. The Dolphins are hoping to be a spoiler this week since they are already out of playoff contention.
Buffalo is on the road so it won’t be easy, but it has the superior team and more motivation so it has good reason to believe a victory can be in its grasp.
Kickoff for this regular season Week 17 game is set for Sunday, December 31, 2017, at 4:25 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium.
Opening NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Buffalo Bills -3
Miami Dolphins +3
Over/Under 43
Odds Analysis
The Bills are favored by a field goal on the road in this one. The vast majority of the bettors like them to cover as more than 80 percent of the action is heading Buffalo’s way.
The scoring total is middle of the road. The “over” is the more popular choice with about two-thirds of the action heading that way.
Injury Report
Alterraun Verner — The Dolphins’ cornerback injured his hamstring against the Chiefs. He left the game and it remains to be seen if he will be available for this one. Buffalo doesn’t throw a lot but Miami wants to have every player available that it can.
Shareece Wright —The Buffalo cornerback suffered an undisclosed injury in Sunday’s loss to the Patriots. The Dolphins don’t have a great offense but if this game is low-scoring, a big pass play or one on defense could be a big shift. Wright will aim to play but check back for injury updates.
Damien Williams — The Dolphins running back is still dealing with a shoulder injury that has kept him out for four consecutive games. It hasn’t been a big deal since Kenyan Drake has done a nice job at running back since the midseason trade of Jay Ajayi.
Player To Watch
Tyrod Taylor — The Bills’ quarterback threw for a season-high 281 yards last weekend in his team’s loss to New England, but finished without a touchdown for the second time in three games. Taylor was also sacked six times in the loss on Sunday.
Protecting Taylor has been a issue all season long for the Bills who have allowed 43 sacks all year. Despite taking a lot of hits, he has managed to keep the Bills in the playoff hunt thus far with chunk plays and a low turnover rate.
Taylor has thrown for 2,595 yards this season with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. He had 224 passing yards and a touchdown in his team’s first win over Miami on December 17th. The duo of Taylor and LeSean McCoy should be able to keep Buffalo in the game and could be good enough to grab the road win.
Free ATS Pick
The Dolphins are not a very good team, even though they have secured some decent home wins this season. Buffalo has fallen off recently and has been outscored this season but is still right in the playoff hunt.
The Bills have all the motivation in the world to win this game, but it won’t be easy on the road. The talent gulf isn’t big enough to take Buffalo to cover this spread. The Bills are going to squeak out a narrow victory but take the Dolphins to cover.
Take the “under” in this matchup as there won’t be as many points as the oddsmakers have projected.
NFL Odds: Bills 21, Dolphins 20
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